11:59 PM: Thanks for all the tips about the Guardian 1 helicopter search over Top Hat. It was helping search for suspects in a shooting and robbery at the Star 21 marijuana store in the 11000 block of 1st Avenue South, we confirmed with a deputy in the area. No arrest(s) reported so far. We will be following up with the King County Sheriff’s Office in the morning.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: From Sgt. Cindi West of KCSO:

A K-9 search was done on the ground in addition to the helicopter search, but no one was found.

12:23 PM: Even more details in the newest update from KCSO:

The incident happened just before 10:00pm at the Star 21 marijuana shop in the 11000 block of 1 Ave S. A store employee saw lights and heard loud banging near the front door so he opened the door to see what it was. He saw a vehicle rapidly backing into the barriers placed in front of the store. A group of men, wearing masks, got out of the car and ran towards him at the front door. The employee tried to close the door but the men forced their way inside the store. One of the suspects shot the 25 year old employee in the shoulder as they entered the store. The suspects were described as black males wearing masks and hoodies.

Once inside the store the suspects rummaged through the store taking items before fleeing northbound in the vehicle. A short time later a deputy found the vehicle unoccupied near S110th St and Occidental Ave S. The vehicle had been reported stolen in a carjacking in SeaTac on Monday. The employee was taken to Harborview with serious injuries.

The carjacking occurred on Monday night around 11:00. The victim was sitting in his car in a parking lot in the 3500 block of S180th St. when he was approached by three males. One of the males produced a handgun, pointed it at the victim and demanded his car keys. The suspects then fled in the vehicle. The suspects in this case were described as two Hispanic males and one black male, all believed to be in their teens. (C17045198)

If you have information about these crimes please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

As promised, we followed up with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West today for details of the two recent marijuana-store holdups in White Center.

The first one, at Uncle Ike’s in the 9800 block of 15th SW, actually happened the night of July 2nd, she says: “4 masked men entered the store armed with handguns and robbed the store of marijuana. During the crime, an employee was pistol-whipped once in the face by one of the suspects. We have not apprehended any of them yet.”

Then last night at Bud Nation in the 9600 block of 16th SW, she says, the store was robbed around 11 pm by “a single suspect (who) entered the store and was armed with a handgun. He was not apprehended.”

For the second time in a week, someone has held up a White Center marijuana store. One week ago tonight, Uncle Ike’s was robbed; we had a reader report but could not follow up the next day because of the holiday, and it fell off our radar until just now, when police radio broadcast a report that Bud Nation was held up a short time ago by a robber with a gun. We’ll follow up on both Tuesday.

Police now believe the death of a 25-year-old man in an unauthorized encampment on the slope between 509 and Myers Way was a homicide. This morning, they reported a 43-year-old man has been arrested and jailed. The cause of the victim’s death has not yet been announced but police say they learned “an assault” had taken place. The suspect has a fairly lengthy criminal record, according to state records online; the felony cases are mostly drug-related.

One woman is dead and another in custody after an early-morning shooting. From King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

The shooting happened just before 1 am in the parking lot of the Avenue Apartments in the 10700 block of 14th Ave SW [map]. Police responded to the complex after receiving numerous 911 calls of a shot being heard.

When police arrived they found a 28 year old woman lying in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 28-year-old, who reportedly fired the shot, was taken into custody at the scene and transported to Highline Hospital with minor injuries from the fight.

Detectives learned the women knew each other and had been at a party at a nearby apartment prior to the shooting. Detectives are interviewing witnesses to determine what led up to the shooting.

Sgt. West says the suspect will be booked later this morning for investigation of murder.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:53 PM TUESDAY: If you’re seeing/hearing a big King County Sheriff’s Office response south of downtown White Center – we’re hearing via the scanner that Super Saver Foods at 10616 16th SW is reported to have been robbed at gunpoint. KCSO was told that five people were involved; no description so far. The store’s online listing says it’s usually open until 11 pm on Tuesday nights, so this happened shortly before closing time.

UPDATE, 11:02 AM WEDNESDAY: From Sgt. Cindi West of KCSO, who says it was a shoplifting case turned to robbery:

3 juvenile males went into the Super Saver and stole some drinks. A security guard followed them out of the store. The three suspects went outside and met up with 2 other juveniles. The security guard confronted the teens and one produced a handgun and threatened the security guard. The suspect then ran. Patrol deputies located the suspect who had displayed the handgun and threatened the guard nearby. He was arrested and booked into the Youth Services Center for Robbery. K-9 attempted a track for the other suspects but none were located.

Williams, 30, is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful gun possession; the latter relates to a robbery conviction dating back to 2004.

If and when he’s caught, the warrant sets his bail at $1 million, saying he “executed” victim James Little “without provocation.” The charging documents detail what’s already been reported – that Little was among those trying to break up a fight that started in the Taradise Café and spilled out into the street. But they have a few more details of the circumstances, saying that Little was shot while talking to a woman who had been in the bar and had gone back to her car; he approached her, she told investigators, and knew her name, and started to talk to her when she heard a “pop” and saw Little fall to the ground. Both she and another witness saw the shooter get into a car and leave the scene. Surveillance video confirmed what they saw, and showed, according to the charging papers, that, “prior to the shooting, there appears to be no interaction or altercation between Little and the suspect.” A third witness identified the shooter as Williams, saying he had known Williams for years.

The vehicle believed to be used in the getaway, a white 2000 BMW, was found somewhere in West Seattle on May 11th, according to the charging papers. It had damage consistent with the car shown in security video, and inside, investigators found a Seattle SuperSonics hat that Williams was believed to be wearing at the time of the shooting.

As for where he is – still a mystery so far as we’ve heard; we just checked the jail register and he’s not there yet. If he’s in custody by June 1st, that’s the date set for his arraignment, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us. Meantime, call 911 if you have any information on Williams’ whereabouts.

Update just in on the Sunday morning murder, from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

Detectives said a birthday party was being held at a bar in the 9800 block of 16 Ave SW Saturday night into Sunday morning. About 1:30 am a fight broke out between two groups of women inside the bar. The fight ended up outside and numerous people were either watching or participating in the disturbance.

After the altercation was over, the victim, a 31-year-old Seattle man, walked across the street with a woman who had been in the altercation. He stood with a group of people for moments before a man in the group pulled a gun and shot him in the head, killing him. The suspect then ran southbound, got into a vehicle and drove off.

Detectives believe the suspect vehicle is a white, 99-01 BMW station wagon. The suspect is described as a black male, and was last seen wearing a dark colored hoodie.

Anyone with information or who may have taken cell phone video before, during or after the shooting is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311. Additionally anyone who may have been driving in the area or picked someone up from the area is asked to call. You may also be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477)

6:49 AM: 16th SW is closed between 98th and 100th as King County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigate a deadly shooting early today. Our crew says the Medical Examiner is there right now as is the victim’s family.

More information to come.

7:25 AM: We’ve just talked with another KCSO investigator at the scene. She says the victim is a man believed to be in his 30s. They found him after responding to a “shots fired” call around 1:40 am. He was near the sidewalk on the west side of 16th by the former restaurant space just south of the future Beer Star. No arrests reported so far.

8:33 AM: Checking our archives, this is the first shooting-with-a-victim case in the area in more than a month, since this one (which was not fatal).

9:13 AM: Just heard back from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says this is reported to have started with a conflict at Taradise Cafe:

Details are sketchy.

Started out as a fight among women in the women’s bathroom that was pushed out into the main front area of the bar and then out into the street.

A man at the bar who went out to talk to one of the women involved in the altercation was shot.

Witness said the suspect calmly shot the victim in the head as he stood out on the street. We don’t know if the suspect had been at the bar or not.

Very little suspect info. Wearing a hoodie but no other details.

As of just before 9 am, the street was still closed.

NOON UPDATE: We just went back to check again; the street is now open again and investigators are gone.

7:23 PM: A tribute to the victim, who friends say was known as “Bookie” and actually went out to try to stop the fight, is in place at the scene:

Got a text about a sizable response of deputies and medics this afternoon. Checked with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who explained that it started around 3:15 pm as a “report of a male trespassing at a business in the 1700 block of SW Roxbury. He was described as possibly being high.” One of the deputies who responded radioed that he was fighting with the suspect; other deputies arrived and made an arrest, but Sgt. West adds, “Apparently one of the deputies was poked with a needle too.”

Last Friday, we got a few questions about the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter searching in White Center. We weren’t able to reach KCSO for details at the time but did get information today from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says a burglary attempt was reported in the 1200 block of SW 112th around 1 pm Friday: “The homeowner told us that when they returned home, they saw the suspect attempting to get into their garage. Deputies arrived quickly and set up a perimeter to try to catch the suspect. K-9 and Guardian 1 also assisted with the search. The suspect was found hiding in the back yard of a house nearby. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Residential Burglary.” The suspect is 44 and, Sgt. West adds, lives “not too far from the area” of the crime.

10:43 PM: King County Sheriff’s Deputies are currently investigating a shooting, according to scanner traffic. A victim was reportedly found at 15th and 98th, but the shooting is said to have happened near the Roxbury Safeway. Right now they’re talking to a possible suspect. We’ll update if we find out anything more.

10:58 PM: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says 15th and 98th is where the victim was shot; the Roxbury Safeway involvement was because of a possible suspect in that area, but “that turned out not to be the case,” and they are continuing to look for the suspect. Sgt. West says the victim is a man whose injury is “serious but not life-threatening.”

11:07 PM: Sgt. West says the victim is being taken to Harborview. He had called 911 to say he was shot, and was in a car when they found him, so they’re not certain about the circumstances so far.

FRIDAY, 10:50 AM: We checked in again with Sgt. West this morning. She says the victim, contrary to rumor, DID survive. As to how and why this happened, investigators still don’t know. Please contact KCSO if you have information.

FIRST REPORT, 1:29 PM: Thanks to Matt from Moonshot Coffee for the first tip on this – the US Bank in the 9800 block of 15th SW in White Center has been robbed. We’ve also just received information from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says the robber gave the teller a note and then got away on foot. No description yet. They’re using a K-9 team for the search. More to come.

2:01 PM UPDATE: Sgt. West just sent this:

Suspect is a white male, 20s, last seen wearing black hoody, black gloves, blue jeans, and a red beanie. May have a tattoo on his neck.

Also added a photo from Matt (thank you!).

3:49 PM UPDATE: And another update from Sgt. West – a suspect has been arrested in Burien. “He was found in the Burien Library by one of our detectives. He is a 24-year-old transient man.” Sgt. West says the robber did not get away with any money.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just charged the man arrested for attacking a woman in White Center early last Friday. 21-year-old Robert J. German is charged with first-degree assault with sexual motivation. The charging documents say the 55-year-old victim remains in the hospital in a “medically induced coma” with major head injuries. German “almost killed her,” prosecutors allege, saying he pulled her behind a wall and attacked her, kicking and beating her in the face and head, as she “lay on her back, kicking and fighting to get away,” and that he apparently tried to sexually assault her. The charging papers say he first accosted her near a bus shelter on the east side of the 9600 block of 15th SW. A witness heard what happened and then found the victim unconscious in a pool of blood and called 911. German was found minutes later in the 10200 block of Ambaum and was later booked into jail, where he remains held in lieu of $750,000 bail. The court documents say the victim “lives on the streets” in White Center and that German works at a Burien restaurant but has been homeless for “about a month.” He has no felony criminal history, according to prosecutors, but has a misdemeanor conviction for theft two years ago. The court documents say that after life-saving treatment at Harborview Medical Center, the victim is expected to survive. German is due to answer the charge at a March 20th arraignment hearing.

March 2nd, 2017 Tracy Posted in Crime, White Center newsComments Off on UPDATE: Woman in critical condition, man in jail after attack in White Center

FIRST REPORT, 6:47 AM: A woman is at Harborview Medical Center after being found unconscious and “severely beaten” early today, according to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says someone called 911 at about 2:20 a to report the woman was being beaten and kicked by a man by the Bartell Drugs store at 15th and Roxbury. A “bloody man” was then found several blocks south, at 15th and 102nd, and was “being interviewed by detectives,” Sgt. West says, adding that it’s “unknown at this point if the victim and suspect knew each other.” More information is expected later today.

UPDATE, 4:55 PM: The victim is 55 years old and in critical condition, and Sgt. West says she might have been sexually assaulted. The “bloody man” who was found, she says, “had blood on his shoes, and bloody footprints at the crime scene matched his shoes.” He is 21 years old and from Tukwila and was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of assault.

Just before 2 am, deputies responded to a shooting at 15th Ave SW/SW Roxbury St. They contacted a 40-year-old male with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to Harborview Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Multiple shots were fired and the victim was hit at least once. The suspect is described as a male in dark colored clothing. The suspect is at large. We have no further information at this time.

Last night around 1130 pm King County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of two women shot near S. 112th St. and 1st Ave S. [map].

The women were with a group of people lighting off fireworks at that location. Witnesses said a white car was driving erratically back and forth in between the area where the group was lighting fireworks. When the vehicle stopped nearby a man from the group approached the vehicle to yell at the driver to stop driving recklessly.

An altercation occurred between the man and two people in the car. During the altercation shots rang out and two women in the group were shot. It is unknown at this time if the shots came from the occupants of the car.

The woman who was shot in the back is a pregnant, 24-year-old Burien woman. She was taken to Harborview and is in serious but stable condition. The other woman, 46 and from Seattle, was taken to Highline Hospital with a gunshot wound to her foot.

The vehicle in the altercation is described as a white older model sedan occupied by two females. Detectives are asking for anyone with information to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.

Every day someone becomes a victim of auto theft. We all think it isn’t that big of deal until it happens to you. A vehicle is stolen in the United States almost every 46 seconds. In 2014, there were 689,527 reported stolen vehicles. That amounts to more than $4.5 billion US Dollars. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro area ranked 8th in the nation with 20,268 reported stolen vehicle. This is a problem that affects all of us.

Following are a few Crime Prevention Tips that can help to keep your car from disappearing and ruining your day:

-NEVER leave your vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition.
-Park in busy and well-lit areas.
-Equip your vehicle with an alarm and other anti-thefts devices.
-Lock your doors and keep the windows closed, even when your vehicle is parked in front of your home.
-Keep your vehicle information where you can get to it quickly.
-Report auto theft immediately. Police need your license plate and vehicle information.